Development of an Algorithm for Selecting the Optimal Voltage of an Electric Grid Section Based on the Penalty Functions Method

Improving the energy efficiency of power grids in the Russian Federation and other countries of the world is currently an important task. Various types of power losses depending on the voltage inevitably occur in the electrical grid. This article discusses the existing methods of reducing the loss of electric energy during its transmission and distribution. The present study proposes a new way to optimize the electrical grid in terms of voltage to minimize electric power losses. As the voltage increases, the load losses in the grid units decrease and the no-load losses increase. The analysis of expressions for determining electric power losses made allowed obtaining an objective function with the help of which it is possible to determine the voltage level providing a minimum of electric power losses. The approach to solving this optimization problem implies the use of the penalty function method. We took up the example of finding the optimal voltage level on the section of the electric grid, as well as its software implementation in MathCAD. The current study allows us to conclude that it is possible to use and implement this method of reducing losses in existing electrical grids.